Lady Raiders Win Their First Game of the Season!

The game started on a positive note as the Raiders moved the ball into the offensive half right from the opening kick and kept it in the Barracuda end for long periods of time.  While the team worked hard, generating scoring chances proved difficult at first.  As the half progressed more space in midfield opened up and both teams made deep runs into the opponent’s penalty box.  RE had many opportunities and spent more time in their offensive half than Coral Reef.  The best opportunity came when Lainey Salomon ‘28 shot from close range in the 24th minute, but the Coral Reef goalkeeper made the save.  The Raider defense snuffed out the Barracuda offense allowing Dylan Beyda ‘28 to pick up mostly the loose balls and stop the occasional shot.  The first goal of the game came in the 28th minute when Becca Hayward ‘29 intercepted a pass at the top of the Barracuda box with her left foot.  Moved the ball to her right foot and placed a hard shot to the left of the goalie.  This really excited the team as they hadn’t scored since the first game of the season.  The Barracudas stole some of the momentum back with a goal two minutes before halftime on a long shot from the right wing.  The Raiders quickly picked themselves up, trying to regain the lead when Becca Hayward '29 had another opportunity from close range.  Hitting another high hard shot forcing an excellent save from the Barracuda goalkeeper.  Despite the tie score (1-1) the Raiders had the momentum.

The second half began with the midfield open again allowing both teams to move the ball up and down the field.  At times the Raiders would maintain pressure, if not possession, in the offensive third of the field producing many shots.  Lainey Salomon ‘28, Sofia Shore ‘28, Cristina Luca ‘28, Amalia Macias ‘28 and Phaedra Haralambides ‘28 all had good opportunities to score the go ahead goal.  However, it wasn’t until after the water break that the second goal came.  Left winger Natalia Saverin ‘29 threw the ball into space inside the Barracuda penalty area.  Phaedra Haralambides ‘28 ran onto it, shooting first time off the Barracuda goalkeeper’s outstretched finger tips.  The Raiders scored again two minutes later for a very important insurance goal.  The RE defense caused a turnover at midfield as Coral Reef was trying to relieve pressure on ir goalkeeper.  Becca Hayward ‘29 picked up the loose ball, made a nice long diagonal pass to Natalia Saverin ‘29 who dribbled past two defenders and played the ball to left wing Joey Louis ‘28. She took a touch and squeezed the ball past the goalkeeper and the left post for a 3-1 lead. The Raiders switched to a more defensive formation to protect the lead.  Unfortunately, that did not prevent a second Coral Reef goal to make the final six minutes more exciting.  The defensive midfielders locked in and the ball was kept in the Barracuda end of the field for the remainder of the game.  Central defenders Brooke Rubino ‘29 and Cece Moyle ‘28 did an excellent job all night.  There were many long runs towards their goal to deal with then they moved forward to support the midfield.  They covered as much ground or more in this game than all season.  As the game went on they kept the ball in the offensive half by stopping its progress at the halfway line or even closer to the Barracuda goal.  This allowed the midfielders and forwards to create a lot more shots in the second half.  It was a joyous feeling when the final whistle sounded and the Raiders could celebrate their first win of the season.  

The MVP for the game was defensive midfielder Phaedra Haralambides ‘28 for her many runs into the opponents defensive third, shots on goal and of course the go ahead second goal.  The Girls JV soccer team play the Carrollton Cyclones on Monday, January 12, 7pm at home.  This is the final game of the season.  Please come out and support the team.